The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System went live in Oregon, officials say

Eugene, OR – According to the state officials, the earthquake detection tool, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, reportedly uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes so alerts can be delivered to people on their cell phones before damaging shaking arrives at their location.

ShakeAlert can save lives and reduce injuries by giving people seconds to take protective action, such as Drop, Cover and Hold On, or to move away from hazardous areas if they feel shaking or get an alert.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network installs, operates, and maintains the seismic monitoring stations that contribute real-time data to the ShakeAlert System.

The PNSN is cooperatively operated by the University of Washington, the USGS and the Oregon Hazards Lab at the University of Oregon.